Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Connecticut Patricia Ferrick speaks during the "Lunch With The Chief" at the New Canaan Police Department. Also pictured from left are: Capt. Vincent Demaio, Chief Leon Krolikowski and Capt. John DiFederico.
Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

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NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- The FBI is increasingly concerned about the "kid in the basement" as the agency seeks to counter people who are swayed by radical Islamic ideology, the FBI's chief in Connecticut said in a talk in New Canaan.

"The kids in the basement who are on the Internet who are listening to ISIL, who are listening to Al-Qaeda, who are becoming radicalized here in the United States, American born," Patricia Ferrick said. "How do you get in front of that?"

Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Connecticut, made the comments during a talk with the New Canaan Police Department's "Lunch With The Chief" held at the department last week. Eighteen people attended the event.

One way of getting in front of the threat is by establishing connections with local law enforcement agencies, school resource officers and mental health professionals to identify younger people, she said. They need to look particularly at those in the 18 to 22 age group who may be out of high school and not enrolled in college who are susceptible to the lure of radical Islam.